A troubled teenager is set to receive professional help for his political beliefs from an anti-terrorism group after revealing to police how he wanted to “get rid of Europeans.”

John Honey handed over a stash of four knives to reception staff at Clough Road Police Station on April 21 with the 19-year-old telling staff how he planned to use the blades in a robbery.

Austin Newman, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court how the college student, who is on the autistic spectrum, “confessed” to staff about his intentions to raid either a supermarket or a takeaway in Spring Bank later that day.

Mr Newman said: “He told staff that the robbery was to be carried out with an accomplice who he named and described as an acquaintance from college.

Honey is on the autistic spectrum

“He said there had been a third person involved but he had since dropped out. He added that if they didn’t get enough money in the robbery they would rob the third person in addition.

“He told them he was the one running the robbery. He had in his possession a number of knives for that purpose which were in his rucksack.

“When asked about the knives, which were recovered, he mentioned that he wanted to get rid of Europeans and that he had committed other robberies at other commercial premises run by Europeans although he had never been caught.”

Honey, who lives with his adoptive parents in Leyburn Avenue, north Hull, had a Stanley knife, two kitchen knives and a military style dagger in his bag. He pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

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His barrister, Nigel Clive, said the teenager has a tendency to make “grandiose” and “over the top” statements.

“There is good reason to believe that the comments made and his intentions to commit an offence were wholly in line with his mental health difficulties,” Mr Clive said.

“He has difficulties as a result of his autism with significant social impairment and problem solving skills but it is important mitigation that this young man, who has no previous convictions, went to the police. If he hadn’t done so, police would have been none the wiser.”

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A psychological report was carried out on Honey who was in the end deemed fit to plead. However, he is now set to receive professional help for his political beliefs.

Mr Clive said: “Mr Honey’s adoptive parents provide him with a high level of support and they have put in place arrangements for this defendant to access professional support in relation to his political beliefs.

“This defendant is easily influenced but he tells me that he no longer speaks to the man who encouraged him to buy the knives.”

Honey will receive professional help from an anti-terrorism group

After hearing Mr Clive’s defence, Judge Mark Bury said he was convinced that Honey did not need to go to prison and that he had “exaggerated” his criminal intentions.

“If I believed you I would lock you up,” Judge Bury said. “Luckily for you I don’t. You are clearly on the autistic spectrum which means you have certain difficulties in terms of your social behaviour.

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“It causes you to not necessarily understand people as well as others might and you react differently. You are prone to exaggeration because you want people to accept you and be friends with you.

“You got yourself into a difficult situation over some knives and I am prepared to accept you felt pressured into purchasing them for somebody and then you didn’t know what to do with them. Although you said some silly things at the police station you did do the right thing and hand them in.”

Judge Bury recognised that Honey would have been classed as an “extremely vulnerable” prisoner should he be sent to jail.

He instead decided to hand him a 12-month community order which is made up of 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement.

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